Improvement in snap-hooks



4 is a bottom view.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM \V. KITOH, OF ORESTLINE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SNAP-HOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,344., dated January 28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. KITCH, of (Jrestline, in the county of Ora wford and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Snap and Buckle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and the letters of ref erence marked thereon making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view. Fig. 2 is a top view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig.

The object of my invention is to furnish a snaphook in which a ring or link can readily be i ntroduced and withdrawn without the depression of the tongue through the interposition of the finger and thumb, as is necessary in the old-style hook. The chief feature of my invention consists in the peculiar form and arrangement of the tongue and spring. The lower section of the tongue projects beyond its pivot-center,

and is of such contour at its base that when pressure is applied in either direction it acts with a cam movement on the spring, which latter is a thin strip of steel, and has its bearings'in recessed or socket shoulders at the ends of an oblong slot cut through the bedplate, and is so relatively arranged that in every movement of the tongue, whether the same be to fasten or detach the rein, the spring will readily yield, and still its tension is constantly exerted, theinstant the pressure ceases, to return the tongue to its normal position or to close the hook. My invention also consists in a peculiar arrangement of bars and pin so as to form a buckle by which the rein or other strap is readily attached to the book without stitching, and which permits of its being removed and secured at pleasure.

The construction and operation of my invention are as follows: Ais the metallic plate out of which the snap-hook is formed. One end of this plate A terminates in the goose-neck or curved hook B, and is of the usual form. At the opposite end of the plate is the buckle E, to which the rein or other strap is attached. Through the plate, below and extending in front of the hook, is cast or cut an oblong slot, 0, at the ends or socket-heads of which are recesses c c. In this slot (J, and having its bearings in the recesses 00, is a spring, 0. In the slot 0 is also pivoted the metallic tongue D. This tongue D is of such-form as to furnish two cam projections or shoulders, at d.

The relative arrangement of the springO and tongue D is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, where it will be seen two of the shoulders d d are in direct contact with the spring, giving to the latter a slightly-bowed form, and this holds the tongue D in such position as to cause it to close the open front of the hook, and which prevents the ring G or its equivalent being either inserted or withdraw 11 without pressure being applied to the tongue; but the pressure required to accomplish either the fastening or unfastening of the ring or loop G-and this it is which constitutes the chief advantage of my invention-is simply furnished by pulling or drawing the ring against the tongue in either direction, when one or the other of the shoulders (I will depress the spring, allowing the ring readily to be inserted or withdrawn, as the case may be, the tension of the spring, the

moment the pressure is removed, forcing the tongue back to its normal position. This reverse cam movement, it will be seen, is secured simply through the action of the shoul ders d d on the spring 0.

The buckle E is at the opposite end of the plate A; and its frame consists of two longitudinal walls, I) b, which project out from the solid section of the plate A, and a crossbar, e. These walls I) I), being curved or having an elbow bend at their section, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, elevate the cross-bar a above the plane of the plate A, and which allows of the strap F being readily manipulated so as to secure a proper fastening, leaving the bar 0 above both sections of its loop. a is a cross-rod at the rear section of the buckle, and h is a cross-bar at the base and near the elbow bend of the walls or sides b b. On this cross-bar h is cast a pin, h.

The entire construction of the buckle and the relative position of its several features, as well as the attachment of the rein, are clearly shown in Fig. 3.

At the end of the rein to be buckled are cut or punched one or more apertures or holes. The end of the band is then pushed through the opening or slot between the bars 0 and I1,

and drawn around the bar a and pulled out (I d, the wholebcing so constructed, secured, and arranged as to operate in the manner described, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence-0f two subscribing witnesses.

VVILLIALWI XV. KITOH.

Witnesses:

J. G. BARNEY, JACOB BABS'I. 

